Irish Moss

Irish moss (Chondrus crispus) is a species of red seaweed that grows in abundance in the reef areas of the Atlantic coast of Ireland, America and parts of the Pacific Ocean. It gets its name from where it is most abundant, in the seas around Ireland. There is also a great tradition of its use in folk medicine.

Fresh Irish moss is soft and varied in colour. It is characterised by its high content of substances that form a gel when soaked in water. These are called carrageenans (also calledcarrageenans) and are actually large molecules that bind water to themselves.

Today, Irish moss is popular in the health food industry as an excellent source of nutrients and in vegan cooking as a great helper.

Irish moss is popular because of its ability to form a gel (it's actually a vegan version of gelatin). This healthy vegetable jelly can be used in ice cream, drinks, desserts and other dishes as a thickener or binder. It is also used in cosmetics - added to body lotions, for example.

Our Irish moss, belonging to the subspecies Kappaphycus alvarezii, is collected from natural sources and can therefore be described as 'wild harvested'.

Uses

• Rinse a handful or so of seaweed well - several times - until it is completely free of salt.
• Then soak them in warm water and leave them to soak for about 2 hours.
• Drain and blend in a high-speed blender with about 750 ml of water to a smooth gelatinous paste.
• Use the algae as a binder or thickener in dishes according to your imagination.
• Irish moss can be used whole without blending in salads or other dishes.
• Store in the refrigerator in a sealed glass container for up to 3 weeks.

* The white coating that appears on the moss is not mould, but salt residue.

Recommended dosage: 1-2 tablespoons (4-8 g) of Irish moss gel daily.

More about carrageenans

Carrageenans are substances with interesting properties. They are also associated with several myths and inaccuracies. For example, they are often confused with collagen. It is therefore worthwhile to dwell on them.

The specificity of carrageenans is that they pass through the human digestive tract without change. They are not degraded either by digestive juices or by intestinal microflora. Their large molecule is not absorbed into the body from the intestine and thus leaves the body unchanged.

Carrageenan thus induces a feeling of satiety and may slow down the absorption of fats from the intestine into the body. This is why it is also included in some weight loss products.

Does Irish moss contain collagen?

You can read in some articles on the internet that Irish moss contains collagen. This is not the case, if you want to know more about it, read our article. Collagen is a pure animal protein.

Do carrageenans carry any risks?

From time to time, news about the harmfulness of carrageenans runs through the public. We are often asked if our Irish moss contains it.

The truth is that all species of Chondrus crispus, the Irish moss, naturally contain carrageenan. In fact, it is precisely the substance that has gelling properties.

The idea that carrageenan is harmful is very simplistic and inaccurate. This is because there are basically three types of carrageenan that occur naturally in red algae. The species Chondrus crispus is characterised by its content of those two types, and we have confirmed its safety from many studies.

Further information

Ingredients

100 % Irish moss(Chondrus crispus)

**Naturally occurring sodium

Warning

Keep out of reach of children. Store in a cool, dark and dry place. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Not a substitute for a varied diet. Not intended for children under 3 years of age, pregnant and lactating women.

Storage

Store at room temperature. Always close the container tightly after use.